Racist tirade on train woman Karen Bailey gave false name on TV

Nick Ralston

The woman who unleashed a racist tirade on a packed peak-hour train is not who she says she is.

In the filmed abuse hurled at passengers, including children and an Asian woman, the alleged offender pretends to talk on the phone to police.

In the mock call she states three times that her name is Sue Wilkins.

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But the 55-year-old is actually Karen Bailey from Buff Point, who previously has worked as a legal secretary at some of Sydney's top law firms.

Her LinkedIn profile says she also spent time working at the Crown Solicitors Office.

Ms Bailey was arrested at Wyong train station on Thursday night after footage of her racist and expletive-laden tirade went viral. She will appear in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court later this month.

Appearing on Nine News on Thursday night, under the name Sue Wilkins, Ms Bailey apologised for her actions, saying she had been job-hunting but that "there's no excuse to rant at people like that".

"I had a rotten day, I've been chasing work for quite some time now. It's awful what I said to that woman, I do agree," the central coast woman was quoted as saying.

"It's awful and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, regardless of any race."

She also claimed she lost $100,000 after being scammed by a Dutch man she met online, and said her rage was triggered when children didn't offer her their seat on the train.

"I thought it was just a disgrace," she said.

"What sort of an example is that setting for your children? It's just appalling."

The footage begins with Ms Bailey apparently speaking on her mobile phone to police and complaining about children not offering her their seats.

It is understood that police did not actually receive a call from Ms Bailey.

"Yeah, I've called the police. They're coming at Strathfield to get these ugly little bogans off," she announces.

She then turns her attention to other passengers, abusing an Asian woman and the man next to her.

The footage shows Ms Wilkins pulling her eyes back with her fingers and mocking the Asian woman's accent.